Jefferson Airplane's Marty Balin Passes

September 28, 2018 at 5:09 PM (PT)

JEFFERSON AIRPLANE co-founder and vocalist-guitarist MARTY BALIN died THURSDAY at the age of 76, ROLLING STONE reports. Cause of death is currently unknown. The band he co-founded with PAUL KANTNER in 1965 led the psychedelic rock movement out of SAN FRANCISCO, starting with classics such as "Somebody To Love" and "White Rabbit" from albums like Surrealistic Pillow and Volunteers.

Drugs and internal dissension prompted BASLIN to leave the group in 1971, but he would return to a renamed JEFFERSON STARSHIP in 1974, where he enjoyed even more success with hits such as "Miracles." He would leave that group for a solo career in 1978, and outside of a couple brief reunion tours, continued as a solo act while spending much of his time painting.